by Danice Allen
Then luck favored Zach. Hidden beneath the robe was Gabby’s green ermine-lined mantle, and a green-and-pinksprigged morning gown that must be hers, too. Even her shift and corset were there, as well as her rice-straw bonnet. “Thank God, I’ve found your clothes, Gabby! We might actually see this thing through without jeopardizing your reputation!”
In his relief, he turned impetuously to look at her, an exultant smile tilting his lips. But Gabby did not return his smile, nor should he expect her to, he supposed. She sat on the bed, the coverlets pulled up and around her shoulders. She stared back at him accusingly. In such a pose, with such an angry, petulant slant to her full lips, but with such obvious hurt in her eyes, she looked more the child he knew than the woman he feared. He felt himself softening.
Zach took Gabby’s clothes from the armoire and laid them at the foot of the bed, avoiding looking at her. “I’m sorry, Gabby. Sweeting, you just don’t understand. You may love me, but I think your feelings are confused. We’ve been friends for a long time. A childish infatuation doesn’t serve well as a solid basis for a marriage—”
“Oh, Zach, do stop with the Banbury tale, if you please!” she said sharply, causing Zach to turn and stare at her. Her eyes were flashing with emotion. “You know very well that’s not what’s keeping us apart! What I feel for you is not infatuation. Any fool watching us for the past ten minutes could see how much I love you! There’s something else that’s coming between us, although admittedly something that I don’t understand. Something you won’t tell me! But never fear, Zach, I will find out what that something is. Because there’s nothing and no one—not even you—that’s going to keep us from being happy together.” Gabby lifted her chin and gave Zach an imperious look from beneath haughtily lowered lids. “Not even the blond woman I saw you with today will keep us apart.”
Zach raked a hand through his hair. “Gawd, Gabby, how did you manage to be in so many places in one day? Just get dressed!”
“Aren’t you going to tell me who she is?” she demanded.
“No, I’m not! It’s none of your business.” Explaining Kate would necessitate explaining the women’s shelter, too, and he wasn’t prepared to do that. His charities had been his saving grace during the past years, and he had a superstitious notion that if he told his family and friends about them, the good works done at each shelter would no longer … well, count.
“I’m not leaving here till you tell me, Zach.”
Zach sat down on the bed and tugged on his boots. “I should have expected such an attitude, Gabby. It clearly shows me just what a child you really are,” he said coolly, standing and buttoning his shirt. “You’re being selfish not thinking of the Murrays and your aunt, who are undoubtedly sick with worry about you. Malcolm and John await us outside in the cold, as well. But, then, children are notoriously selfish.”
Gabrielle knew he was right. She was hardly displaying maturity by delaying their return to Charlotte Square. She might even be jeopardizing their safety by resisting Zach’s urgings to hurry and dress. And as far as making romantic headway with Zach, certainly staying where they were was accomplishing nothing. He was putting on his jacket.
As Gabrielle threw off the covers and climbed out of the bed, Zach moved to stand by the window, his back turned to her. Zach’s deliberate removal and the show of his back had a twofold reason, she was sure. First, he was studying the escape route and concocting a believable story to excuse their long absence. Second, he was being a perfect gentleman by allowing her to dress without the embarrassment of being watched.
How noble, she thought, pulling her shift over her head. And how unnecessary. As she’d truthfully told Zach, she didn’t feel the least unnatural or uncomfortable about being slightly, or even completely, undressed in front of him. A self-satisfied smile curved her lips. It apparently made him deuced uncomfortable, and that was very good news to her.
As she completed dressing, Gabrielle relived her moments in the bed with Zach. Because of the monumental importance of what had happened in that room, their time there had seemed longer than the actual half hour that had passed. She also contemplated asking Zach about his attack of panic, but she didn’t want to embarrass him or make a to-do over it. If he wanted to discuss it, he’d bring up the subject himself. She felt sure that the attack had something to do with Zach’s past, and was probably tangled in with the other conflicts that kept him from making a commitment to her. Now was not the time, but she definitely would find out what troubled Zach so much.
Finally she stood before the mirror and straightened her hair as best she could, then put on her bonnet. “There,” she said, turning toward Zach. “Will I do?”
Zach swiveled and looked at her, taking in her appearance from head to toe. “Yes, you’ll do. A bit of disarray won’t hurt, either, since I’ve decided to tell the Murrays that our carriage broke a wheel while we tooled ’round Duddingston Loch. Then we walked to an inn to seek shelter and refreshment while the smithy made repairs.”
Gabrielle raised her brows. “And we didn’t send them word?”
“Oh, we did send word,” Zach returned, obviously having thought through all the possible hitches in his plan. “But the fellow I sent with the note apparently wasn’t a reliable messenger. Mayhap he took the coin I gave him and bought a bottle of Blue Ruin. Naturally neither of us will know the fellow had failed to fulfill his commission till we reach Charlotte Square. Then we must act terribly surprised that they never received our missive. You like to act, Gabby. This will be a perfect opportunity for you.”
“That was not very nice of you to say,” Gabrielle informed him matter-of-factly.
Zach grimaced. “I know. Actually I never intended it to come out ’nice.’ I’m sorry, Gabby. I think I’m punishing you a little. Personally I find lying distasteful, but in this case, if we told the truth your reputation would be in shambles and the Murrays and Clarissa would hold themselves responsible. We’d better lie convincingly.”
“Like I did about Rory?”
Zach shrugged. “Well, didn’t you? Everyone believes you are truly besotted with and betrothed to the man. All of Edinburgh, it seems. Even your mother in distant Cornwall is looking forward to your spring nuptials.” Zach gave a self-derisive laugh. “Lord, when I think of that letter you sent me, I—”
“It did the trick, didn’t it? I made you jealous, didn’t I?”
Zach’s mouth clamped shut, and he let his eyelids droop over his eyes in that lordly pose he assumed when he was miffed and wanted to deliver a setdown to an encroacher. Gabrielle sighed. “Don’t use your setdown stare on me, Zach. I’ll tell the Murrays and Mama the truth about my betrothal to Rory.”
“When?”
Gabrielle couldn’t resist. “When you tell me who that blond woman is.”
“You’re impossible!” Zach exploded, turning away to yank open the window. “We won’t discuss this anymore today, Gabby, because you are driving me mad! We still have to get down to the street without breaking our necks. We’ll need to concentrate, and squabbling our way along the ledge might alert Mother Henn or one of her lackeys. If we die, poor Malcolm and John will bear the burden of carrying the real truth of this folly to Charlotte Square, and I’m sure they wouldn’t relish such a chore! Now, come here!”
Zach held out his hand, and Gabrielle obediently took it, then he drew her to the window. She tried to ignore how his proximity made her heart race. They both bent to look outside. She was grateful to note that the light flurry of snow had passed, and the sky was clear and brightly lit by a three-quarter moon.
“At least we shouldn’t have any problem seeing where we’re going,” she remarked.
“Nor would anyone have the least trouble seeing us, either, if they should happen to be looking up.”
“At least I don’t think anyone downstairs is paying much attention to what we’re doing.”
“They’re probably making merry over the extra money your abduction contributed to the coffers of th
is lovely establishment.”
Gabrielle turned her head to look at him. Their noses were practically touching. “How much did I contribute?”
Zach swallowed and drew back, frowning. “I can’t believe you’d even want to know. The whole thing is rather sordid,” he said dampeningly.
Gabrielle was undaunted. She leaned toward him, tilting her chin so her lips were invitingly close. “You should know me better than that, Zach. Of course I’m curious. How much?”
His gaze was riveted to her mouth. “You’d only puff up with pride if I told you, so I’m not going to tell you.” She saw his jaw tighten as he determinedly looked away. He’d resisted temptation and, as well, had dropped the subject of her price. She admired and loathed his willpower. He angled a finger outside, all business now. “We’re going to scoot along this ledge till we get next to that other building. It doesn’t have a ledge we can balance on, but there’s a window close enough to climb into. I just pray it’s not secured somehow from the other side. I expect, however, that the residents don’t worry overly much about burglars breaking in from two stories up. Then once we’re in, I hope there are no dogs to attack us, or a bloke with a gun bent on defending his home. The element of surprise is on our side. I can’t see any light inside, so possibly they’re not even at home. But if they are, we’ll dash through before they know what’s happening. John is waiting near the entrance of the building, and Malcolm is with the carriage a few streets away.”
Gabrielle paid close attention while Zach explained things, and now she looked once again at the ledge, which was perhaps a foot wide. She’d seen much narrower ledges, so she supposed she ought to be grateful for the generous size of this one, but still… She swallowed nervously. “I understand, but I must tell you, I’m awfully frightened. Are you sure this is the best way to go?”
“Mother Henn’s hirelings are armed. The house is full of people. We’d never get out without a confrontation, and that’s too risky.” Zach gave her hand a squeeze. “Being frightened is nothing to be ashamed of. It only shows a proper amount of respect for danger. If you weren’t frightened, I’d think you were an idiot. Besides, I’ll go before you. You just must do exactly as I do—”
“Unless you fall.” Gabrielle smiled nervously.
Zach gave her a rueful grin, acknowledging his appreciation of her humor under such unnerving circumstances. “Yes, unless I fall.”
Her smile fell away. She felt a sharp pang of fear. “But you won’t, will you? You aren’t still dizzy from that topknot I gave you, are you?”
“Of course not. What about you? The laudanum hasn’t made you feel tipsy, has it?”
“No, I’m quite sober. The cold air is bracing.”
“Good. Don’t worry. There’s plenty of room on this ledge. You’ve crossed the creek at Brookmoor on logs half this width. You must just lean back against the building.”
Suddenly the discussion was over. There was nothing left to talk about, no more instructions and reassurances; it was time to move. Zach lifted a leg and hiked it through the open window, setting a foot down carefully on the ledge. He tested the strength of the ledge by bouncing on the heel of his boot several times, then pulled his other leg through, ducked his head, and stood up. Gabrielle held her breath as she watched him turn and face away from the building.
He looked down at her, a triumphant, slightly twitchy smile spread over his handsome face. “Simple as pie. Come along, sweeting. Take my hand.”
“You know I make terrible pie, Zach,” Gabrielle demurred, but she did as she was bid. After all, what was the alternative? She’d rather risk life and limb than remain a living, breathing victim of Mrs. Henn’s. Exactly imitating Zach’s movements, soon Gabrielle was standing beside him on the ledge.
It was a curious sensation, standing spread-legged and with her arms stretched against the cold stone of the building, the icy winter air stinging her cheeks. She was high above the street—one quick dizzying look down confirmed that—and yet not so high that the stars should by contrast seem so much closer. She gazed past the crown of her bonnet at the sky, past the wind-driven curls of smoke that emanated from the hundreds of chimneys. The stars did look closer. Though the stimulant pumping through her veins was three parts fear, Gabrielle felt buoyed and exhilarated from seemingly rubbing elbows with the constellations. For a brief, crazed moment, she almost felt as though if she leapt off the building, she’d fly.
“Don’t look down, Gabby, nor up for that matter. Look at me, and as I take a step, you take a step. Do you understand?”
Gabrielle shook her head, clearing away the glittering pixy dust of imagination that sometimes cluttered her brain, then turned to Zach. They still held hands, and, since she was too agitated to speak, she squeezed his fingers to relay her understanding. Zach nodded, gave her another smile to encourage her, then led the way.
Step by slow, excruciating step, they made their way along the ledge. They were required to pass one window of the apartments belonging to Mother Henn. The room appeared unlit, but that didn’t necessarily mean it was empty. Gabrielle imagined that Mother Henn liked keeping all her rooms as full and busy as possible. She held her breath as they went by, releasing it only when they were both past the window. Now they were within easy distance of the neighboring building.
“I’ve got to let go of your hand, Gabby,” Zach whispered. “I have to open the window.”
Even from such a precarious perch, holding on to Zach made Gabrielle feel safe. It was one of the hardest things she’d ever done, but she made herself loosen her grip, slide her fingers free, and press her hand against the building.
It was too shadowy where they stood to be sure of it, but Gabrielle thought Zach gave her a reassuring smile. She felt it like an energy that vibrated between them. “That’s right. Keep leaning back. It’ll take me just a minute.” Then Zach very slowly squatted down, balancing on the balls of his feet, his inside shoulder pressed to the building, his outside hand braced against the edge of the ledge.
There were about eighteen inches between the buildings, and the window they hoped to enter through was a step down from the ledge, so Zaich had to lean down to grab hold of the sash and pull it up. Naturally there was no handle on the outside, so he must exert pressure on the frame itself. And he would have to do it as quietly as possible, just in case there was someone inside the darkened room.
Gabrielle noticed that the curtains hanging in the window were tattered and threadbare, barely covering the glass. She wondered if the Tuttles lived in a similarly impoverished apartment. She shivered, thinking about how cold she was and how cold Will and his family must be continuously if they didn’t have the wherewithal to buy fuel for their fires.
There was a sharp splintering sound—cold, damp wood grudgingly separating. He’d opened the window. Now he kept very still, probably listening for noise from inside. Apparently relieved that the first crack of the window had not prompted a guard dog or a brawny head of the household to investigate, Zach slowly pushed up the sash till it was high enough to allow them entry.
Zach turned and looked at Gabrielle. “I’ll go first. Don’t move till I tell you to. Understand?”
Gabrielle nodded. Her exhilaration had been ebbing away with the increasingly numb state of her fingers and toes. She was freezing. Her teeth were chattering, the convulsive reaction made all the more violent by the state of her nerves.
Zach climbed in, lithely stepping over the abyss between the buildings and easily fitting himself through the window opening. Though most incongruent to the tensely dangerous situation, Gabrielle couldn’t seem to help herself from admiring Zach’s narrow hips and long, slim legs as he so adeptly accomplished what would have been a chore for someone less athletic. Like herself, for example.
She lost sight of him for a moment, then his face reappeared. Light from an overhead window filtered over him like a pale, pearlescent veil, making him look almost ghostly. He smiled, dispelling the gloomy aspect, and extended his
arms. “We’re in luck, Gabby. The room’s empty. Now listen carefully, and do exactly as I say. Keeping your back against the wall, slowly, ever so slowly, bend your knees and lower yourself till your bottom is touching the ledge. Then sit down.”
She looked down at the dark crack between the buildings, the black chasm that separated her from Zach’s waiting arms.
“Don’t look down, sweeting. Look at me. And don’t worry, I’ll catch you if you start to fall.” He gave her a teasing grin. “Though I’d rather not be put to the trouble. Might wrench my back, you know.”
Zach’s easy manner and tone of voice were soothing. Gabrielle looked at him, and he held her gaze with the intensity of his own. He may be trying to break the tension by teasing her, but she knew he was dead earnest about making sure she made it across to safety. She did what he’d instructed her to do, but as she bent her knees she thought they seemed remarkably weak. She prayed they wouldn’t buckle under her and send her teetering off the side of the building.
“That’s my girl,” Zach crooned. “Perfect, Gabby, perfect.”
Sitting at last, Gabrielle hissed a relieved breath through her chattering teeth.
“Now put your feet on the window sill—There, that’s right! Lean over and put your hands on my forearms, while I catch hold of your waist. Then as you lift off from the ledge, I’ll heft you through the window on the count of three. Ready?”
Positioned in the manner in which Zach had instructed her, with her legs stretched across the gap between the buildings and her hands clutching Zach’s forearms, Gabrielle once again nodded her head. His strong hands encircling her waist would give her whatever courage was required to propel herself off the ledge and into his arms.
She heard him count off the numbers, then felt herself practically airborne for an instant. She wasn’t aware of it at the time, but she’d had her eyes closed throughout the entire maneuver. When she opened them, she was standing in a dark chamber, with Zach’s arms wrapped around her and her face pressed against his chest. Naturally she could see nothing beyond his lapel. But she didn’t care. She was still cold, but her teeth weren’t chattering anymore. She was safe. She was with Zach. And he was holding her as though he didn’t intend to release her in the foreseeable future.
